Tunnel washing machine

Abstract

The present invention discloses a tunnel washer apparatus. The apparatus provides a plurality of modules that include an intake module, a discharge module, and one or more modules in between the intake module and the discharge module. Multiple modules have a cylinder. Each cylinder has first and second cylinder ends. A scoop enables transfer of fabric articles to be washed from one cylinder to another cylinder. A first plate is connected to the scoop, wherein the first plate has a concave edge portion and a convex edge portion. The first plate preferably is welded to the first cylinder end with a first weld that extends along the convex edge portion. A second plate is connected to the scoop. The second plate has first and second convex edge portions. The second plate preferably is welded to the second cylinder end with a second weld that extends along one of the second plate convex edge portions. There is a first stress relieving gap in between the first cylinder end and the first weld. There is a second stress relieving gap in between the second cylinder end and the second weld. This arrangement enables the scoop and both plates to move together, thus providing a stress relieving annulus at scoop ends that reduces stress on or near one or more of the scoop to cylinder connections or welds below a threshold that otherwise results in fatigue/cracking.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tunnel washer apparatus, comprising:
 a) a plurality of modules that include an intake module, a discharge module, and one or more modules in between said intake module and said discharge module; 
 b) multiple of said modules having a cylinder with first and second cylinder ends; 
 c) a scoop that enables transfer of fabric articles to be washed from one said cylinder to another said cylinder; 
 d) a first plate connected to the scoop, said first plate having a concave edge portion and a convex edge portion, said first plate welded to the first cylinder end with a first weld that extends along said convex edge portion; 
 e) a second plate connected to the scoop, said second plate having first and second convex edge portions, said second plate welded to the second cylinder end with a second weld that extends along one of said second plate convex edge portions; 
 f) a first stress relieving gap positioned in between the first cylinder end and the first plate; 
 g) a second stress relieving gap positioned in between the second cylinder end and the second plate; 
 h) wherein said first plate is able to flex about said first weld at a first pivoting joint; 
 i) wherein said second plate is able to flex about said second weld at a second pivoting joint; and 
 j) wherein said gaps enable deflection of said scoop and said plates reflective to a said cylinder end. 
 
     
     
       2. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first plate extends more than 180 degrees relative to said central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       3. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than a joint between the first plate and the scoop. 
     
     
       4. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than a joint between the second plate and the scoop. 
     
     
       5. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second plate extends less than 180 degrees relative to said central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       6. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 1  wherein there are two cylinders joined with a connection that includes one or more annular plates, and wherein the first weld is farther from the cylinder central longitudinal axis than one of said annular plates. 
     
     
       7. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the scoop connects to the first plate at a bend. 
     
     
       8. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second plate connects to the scoop at a bend. 
     
     
       9. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first plate and the second plate simultaneously flex when loaded with fabric articles and liquid during scoop rotation. 
     
     
       10. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first plate has first and second end portions, and wherein one end portion includes a notch. 
     
     
       11. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second plate includes perforations. 
     
     
       12. A tunnel washer apparatus, comprising:
 a) a plurality of modules that include an intake module, a discharge module, and one or more modules in between said intake module and said discharge module; 
 b) two successive of said modules having two cylinders that are connected together with an annular connecting portion having a first diameter, each cylinder having a cylinder periphery with a cylinder outer diameter that is greater than said first diameter, each cylinder having upstream and downstream cylinder ends; 
 c) a scoop that enables transfer of fabric articles to be washed from one said cylinder to another said cylinder; 
 d) a first plate connected to the scoop, said first plate having a concave edge portion and a convex edge portion, said first plate welded to a first cylinder end with a first weld at said convex edge portion; 
 e) a second plate connected to the scoop, said second plate having first and second convex edge portions, said second plate welded to a second cylinder end with a second weld at a said second plate convex edge portion; 
 f) a first stress relieving gap that is positioned in between the first cylinder end and the first plate; and 
 g) a second stress relieving gap that is positioned in between the second cylinder end and the second plate; and 
 h) wherein said stress relieving gaps and said first and second plates enable the scoop to deflect relative to either of said cylinder ends. 
 
     
     
       13. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the first weld extends along a majority of the first plate convex edge. 
     
     
       14. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than the annular connecting portion first diameter. 
     
     
       15. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than the annular connecting portion first diameter. 
     
     
       16. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second plate extends less than 180 degrees relative to said central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       17. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the annular connecting portion includes one or more annular plates, and wherein the first weld is farther from the central longitudinal axis than one of said annular plates. 
     
     
       18. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the first plate connects to the scoop with a bend. 
     
     
       19. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the second plate connects to the scoop with a bend. 
     
     
       20. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first plate and the second plate simultaneously flex during scoop rotation about said central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       21. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the scoop flexes longitudinally along said central axis during scoop rotation and wherein both first and second plates move pivotally relative to the cylinder. 
     
     
       22. A tunnel washer apparatus, comprising:
 a) a plurality of modules that include an intake module, a discharge module, and one or more modules in between said intake module and said discharge module; 
 b) multiple of said modules having a cylinder with first and second cylinder ends; 
 c) a scoop that enables transfer of fabric articles to be washed from one said cylinder to another said cylinder; 
 d) a first plate connected to the scoop, said first plate having a concave edge portion and a convex edge portion, said first plate welded to the first cylinder end with a first weld that extends along said convex edge portion; 
 e) a second plate connected to the scoop, said second plate having first and second convex edge portions, said second plate welded to the second cylinder end with a second weld that extends along one of said second plate convex edge portions; 
 f) a first stress relieving gap positioned in between the first cylinder end and the first plate, such that the first plate and the scoop can deflect relative to the first cylinder end; and 
 g) a second stress relieving gap positioned in between the second cylinder end and the second plate, such that the second plate and the scoop can deflect relative to the second cylinder end. 
 
     
     
       23. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than a joint between the first plate and the scoop. 
     
     
       24. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than a joint between the second plate and the scoop. 
     
     
       25. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second plate extends less than 180 degrees relative to said central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       26. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 22  wherein there are two cylinders joined with a connection that includes one or more annular plates, and wherein the first weld is farther from the cylinder central longitudinal axis than one of said annular plates. 
     
     
       27. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the first plate has first and second end portions, and wherein one end portion includes a notch. 
     
     
       28. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the second plate includes perforations. 
     
     
       29. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein two successive of said modules have two cylinders that are connected together with an annular connecting portion having a first diameter, each cylinder having a cylinder periphery with a cylinder outer diameter that is greater than said first diameter, each cylinder having upstream and downstream cylinder ends. 
     
     
       30. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than the annular connecting portion first diameter. 
     
     
       31. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the second weld is farther from said central longitudinal axis than the annular connecting portion first diameter. 
     
     
       32. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the annular connecting portion includes one or more annular plates, and wherein the first weld is farther from the central longitudinal axis than one of said annular plates. 
     
     
       33. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the first plate connects to the scoop with a bend. 
     
     
       34. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the second plate connects to the scoop with a bend. 
     
     
       35. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the cylinder has a central longitudinal axis and the first plate and the second plate simultaneously flex during scoop rotation about said central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       36. The tunnel washer apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the scoop flexes longitudinally along said central axis during scoop rotation and wherein both first and second plates move pivotally relative to the cylinder.